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Folger Shakespeare Library

ArchitectureHistoryLiteratureClosed todayFreeCapitol South (Orange, Blue, Silver lines) — 4 blocks

Fondata da Henry Clay ed Emily Jordan Folger e aperta al pubblico nel 1932, la Folger custodisce la più vasta raccolta shakespeariana al mondo: oltre 250.000 libri, circa 60.000 manoscritti e 82 copie del First Folio del 1623, ovvero più di un terzo di tutti gli esemplari oggi conosciuti. L'edificio in marmo bianco progettato da Paul Philippe Cret cela al suo interno ambienti elisabettiani, tra cui un teatro con pareti a graticcio modellato sul cortile di una locanda rinascimentale e una Great Hall decorata con boiserie in rovere e stucchi geometrici a nastro. Un accurato restauro pluriennale, concluso nel giugno 2024, ha reso l'edificio accessibile ai visitatori come mai prima d'ora, introducendo due nuove sale espositive, un laboratorio didattico, un caffè all'interno della Great Hall e giardini a tema shakespeariano con tanto di balcone di Giulietta. L'ingresso è gratuito, e la Gail Kern Paster Reading Room — solitamente riservata agli studiosi — apre le sue porte al pubblico il venerdì sera e nei fine settimana.

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Getting there

201 East Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003, United States

Nearest station: Capitol South (Orange, Blue, Silver lines) — 4 blocks, Union Station (Red line) — 8 blocks, Eastern Market (Orange, Blue, Silver lines)

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Hours

MonClosed
TueClosed
WedClosed
ThuClosed
FriClosed
SatTodayClosed
SunClosed

Admission

Free

Free entry. A pay-what-you-will timed-entry pass is recommended (suggested donation from $15); walk-ins welcome as capacity allows. Passes are released up to three months ahead. Guided one-hour group tours cost $25 per person and include admission.

Nearby

Library of Congress

ArchitectureFree2 min walk

National Museum of the American Indian

ArtFree14 min walk

Rubell Museum DC

Art16 min walk

National Air and Space Museum

HistoryFree18 min walk

Visitor Information

Is Folger Shakespeare Library free to visit?
Yes, general admission to Folger Shakespeare Library is free. Free entry. A pay-what-you-will timed-entry pass is recommended (suggested donation from $15); walk-ins welcome as capacity allows. Passes are released up to three months ahead. Guided one-hour group tours cost $25 per person and include admission.. Some special exhibitions may charge a separate ticket, so check the museum's website before visiting.
What are the opening hours of Folger Shakespeare Library?
Folger Shakespeare Library is open Galleries and Great Hall: Tue–Thu and Sat–Sun 11am–6pm, Fri 11am–9pm; closed Mondays. On evenings with public events the galleries stay open until 30 minutes before the event starts. The Paster Reading Room opens to visitors Fri 5–8pm and Sat–Sun 11am–5pm. The café closes half an hour before the rest of the building. No dated closures announced as of 10 September 2026.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is Folger Shakespeare Library?
Folger Shakespeare Library is located at 201 East Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003, United States, in the Capitol Hill area of Washington, DC. The nearest stations are Capitol South (Orange, Blue, Silver lines) — 4 blocks, Union Station (Red line) — 8 blocks, Eastern Market (Orange, Blue, Silver lines).
What can I see at Folger Shakespeare Library?
La più grande collezione shakespeariana al mondo: 82 copie del First Folio, un teatro elisabettiano e una Great Hall in stile Tudor, a soli quattro isolati dal Capitol. Current highlights include Mostra su Shakespeare (Shakespeare Exhibition), The Great Hall, Per ascoltare la sua voce: le donne nere e Shakespeare (To Hear Her Speak: Black Women and Shakespeare).
Do I need to book Folger Shakespeare Library in advance?
Folger Shakespeare Library is free to enter and most days you can walk in. Free entry. A pay-what-you-will timed-entry pass is recommended (suggested donation from $15); walk-ins welcome as capacity allows. Passes are released up to three months ahead. Guided one-hour group tours cost $25 per person and include admission.. For special exhibitions, weekends, and school holidays, booking a timed slot can help you skip queues. Check the museum's website for current requirements.
When is the best time to visit Folger Shakespeare Library?
Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.

Ser Amantio di Nicolao, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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